Delhi-NCR is emerging as the world's dumping yard for e-waste and likely to generate to an extent of 95,000 metric tonnes (MT) per annum by 2017 from the current level 55,000 metric tonnes per annum growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 25%, revealed a just-concluded ASSOCHAM study.

The ASSOCHAM latest paper
revealed that currently e-waste of Delhi is approx. 55,000 metric
tonnes per annum and employed over 2.5 Lakhs of workers in city's
various organized and unorganized recycling units, said D S
Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM while releasing the ASSOCHAM
paper.

In
Focus

The paper further reveals that United States (US)
is ranked top acquiring the highest share of importing e-waste in
India followed by China and European Union (EU). Looking at the
country-wise share in India's e-waste imports, US has a maximum
share of around 42%, China at around 30% followed by Europe at around
18% and rest 10% is from other countries like Taiwan, South
Korea, Japan etc, adds the ASSOCHAM paper.

While
releasing the ASSOCHAM findings, Mr. Rawat said, "less than 2 per
cent of India's total electronic waste (e-waste) gets recycled due to
absence of proper infrastructure, legislation and framework".

India
produces nearly 13 lakh MT of electronic waste every year. Mumbai
(96,000) tops the list in generating e-waste followed Delhi-NCR
(55,000) and Bangalore (52,000). "Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad,
Hyderabad and Pune find a place in the ladder, at 47,000, 35,000,
26,000, 25,000 and 19,000 metric tonnes per year respectively,"
the study reveals.

The paper further mentioned that Delhi
alone gets around 86% of the electronic waste generated in the
developed world. In terms of total e-waste produced internally or
brought from outside for recycling, Delhi's e-waste weighs between
50,000 and 55,000 metric tonnes per year.

Delhi-NCR has
emerged as the main hub of e-waste recycling in India, and perhaps
the world. The e-waste imported from Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata
makes its way to Delhi as there is a ready market for glass and
plastic in the NCR. Also, the wastes from Mumbai constitute a bulk of
the 1,500 tonnes discarded electronics that land in Delhi's scrap
yards every day.

As per the estimates, over 35,000-45,000
child labour of age group between 10-14 are observed to be engaged in
various e-waste activities, without adequate protection and
safeguards in Delhi's various yards and recycling workshops, adds
the paper.

Mr. Rawat further also added that each state should
develop its own scrap yards in the respective cities so that the
environmental hazards would be minimized in Delhi-NCR.

"As
many as 10,500 mobile handset, 6,500 TV sets and 4,000 personal
computers are dismantled in the city every day for reuse of their
component parts and materials", said Mr. Rawat. "While the
list is growing so is the quantity as these products are getting more
affordable and more and more people are using them. Increasing usage
also leads to more of them coming up for disposal, thus increasing
the rate of obsolescence and replacement", added Mr.
Rawat.

Computer equipment accounts for almost 68% of e-waste
material followed by telecommunication equipment (12%), electrical
equipment (8%) and medical equipment (7%). Other equipment, including
household e-crap account for the remaining 5%, it said.

Mr.
Rawat said, "e-waste is directly linked to the economic growth of
the country and also overall consumer spending pattern. India's
economic growth has lifted millions of people from lower-income group
to middle and high-income groups and increased purchasing
power".

More than 70 per cent of e-waste contributors are
government, public and private industries, while household waste
contributes about 15 per cent. Televisions, refrigerators and washing
machines make up the majority of e-waste, while computers account for
another 20 per cent and mobile phones 2 per cent, adds the
report.